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September 28, 2004
Interdict!
From LifeSite News, an article from the retired bishop of Corpus Christi detailing how he dealt with a Catholic pro-abortion rights pol
I never heard from the individual, who died in 2001, while still under Interdiction. I never publicized the Decree of Interdiction. It was a matter between me, the individual and God. Whether or not the individual ever received Holy Communion after having been Interdicted, I do not know, and it is not important that I should have known since it was a matter of the internal forum. If the individual did receive Holy Communion while under a Decree of Interdiction it would have been a further sacrilege.Some will argue that the Decree of Interdiction should have been made public at the time it was issued. I disagree. The Corpus Christi Caller-Times would have exploited the news just as they had exploited the three Decrees of Excommunication I had earlier issued against three abortionists in Corpus Christi who chose to make their excommunication known publicly. If it had been reported to me that the individual was receiving Holy Communion after receiving the Decree of Interdiction I would have published the decree in the Diocesan Newspaper.
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» Archiepiscopal Spine Alert! from Catholic Light
From Lifesite, via Amy: Abp. Rene Gracida (retired, Corpus Christi) reveals his efforts to dissuade a "pro-choice Catholic" politician from his errors. After the politician gave no response to the archbishop's letters of correction and warning, Abp. Gr... [Read More]
Tracked on Sep 29, 2004 1:48:15 AM
Comments
God bless Abp. Gracida! This is exactly the right course of action. Interdict as a penalty avoids any posturing about "kicking the erring sheep out of the church" as would happen in the case of excommunication.
Posted by: RC at Sep 29, 2004 12:08:35 AM
Too bad Abp. Gracida is now an emeritus. He handled this situation perfectly.
Posted by: Victor Morton at Sep 29, 2004 12:46:42 AM
He did handle this situation perfectly. But nota bene: for the 11 years between the interdict and its disclosure, it appeared that he had taken no action at all with respect to that particular politician. I wonder how many bishops are at present taking the same quiet and discreet course, while being condemned in the comment boxes for being all talk and no action?
Posted by: tt at Sep 29, 2004 7:31:00 AM
I loved having him down there in CC. In the midst of 80% Democrat country, he refused to allow pro-abort Democrat pols from speaking on Catholic property. Spine of steel.
Posted by: c matt at Sep 29, 2004 9:20:14 AM
Great point, tt.
Posted by: Christine at Sep 29, 2004 9:31:32 AM
Yes, very good point, tt.
Posted by: kyle at Sep 29, 2004 9:35:38 AM
Good point, indeed, tt. Francis Cardinal George is another bishop who seemingly likes to work "behind-the-scenes."
An example: The cardinal did implore/request (privately) Loyola University Chicago to cancel an award that's being given to pro-abortion Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
Sadly, Loyola has refused him.
Posted by: Matt C. Abbott at Sep 29, 2004 9:58:51 AM
Perhaps if this possibility of interdiction were made public, not in any individual case, but if the bishops talked about using this as a tool, we might be able to trust them a bit more.
Personally, this is the first I've heard of interdiction.
Posted by: Carrie at Sep 29, 2004 10:30:19 AM
Interdict. Sigh. What a beautiful word.
Activist friends: what can we do to encourage our bishops to do the same? Just send them articles about Gracida, with the words ROLE MODEL FOR YOUR EXCELLENCY written across the top margin in red?
Somthing more tactful?
Posted by: Julianne Wiley at Sep 30, 2004 3:43:05 PM
